Ordeal is over for British aid worker captured by rebels

A BRITISH charity worker held by Sierra Leone rebels has returned to Freetown after more than a month in captivity during which he was repeatedly threatened with death.

It was not clear last night whether Alan Smith, a 55-year-old engineer from Birmingham, had been released or had escaped. He was believed to have been travelling with a group of Sierra Leoneans transporting supplies for a local educational charity when he went missing near the town of Songo in May.

Last night British diplomats said he had been able to make his way from the rebel stronghold of Makeni, where he was being held under house arrest, to the growing refugee camp at Mile 91 about 40 miles away. He was picked up there on Saturday by British forces.

Virtually all of Makeni's population escaped after a government attack helicopter dropped warning leaflets and repeatedly attacked rebels in the town. Some civilians slipped into the jungle during the confusion caused by the helicopter attacks. Mr Smith declined to speak to journalists. Friends said he was planning to sell his story to the highest bidder to raise funds for his charity.

The British Army and United Nations peacekeepers have denied claims that a British officer serving as a UN military observer had been tortured after being captured by rebels last month. Relatives of Major Andrew Harrison were quoted as saying that he had been tortured by the rebels and complained that he had been abandoned by British combat forces which left the country last week.

Major Harrison, an officer of the 2nd Bn the Parachute Regt, is among 11 military observers who were captured by the Revolutionary United Front and later handed back to a contingent of Indian army Gurkhas surrounded by rebels in the western town of Kailahun. The two companies of soldiers are still armed and remain in a stand-off with rebels.

Capt Fergus Smith, spokesman for British forces in Sierra Leone said: "We have spoken to Major Harrison this morning and we can confirm that he has not been tortured. He is in a good state of health. There is a doctor at the base and the UN are sending regular convoys. He is certainly not in any imminent danger. He is very upset about the concern that is being expressed about him."

British officers have privately said that any British attempt to rescue Major Harrison would be "political suicide" unless the other UN soldiers and observers could also be released. David Wimhurst, spokesman for the UN forces, said: "The Indian forces could fight their way out, but that would endanger the soldiers' lives. We are trying to resolve this peacefully."